Doan Viet Hoat, a former teacher and university administrator, was arrested on 17 November 1990 and has been held without trial since then. AI has received reports that he and several others will soon be brought to trial in Ho Chi Minh City on charges of “activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s government”. These charges carry a maximum penalty of death. This is Doan Viet Hoat’s second time to be adopted as a prisoner of conscience by AI: he was previously detained without trial for 12 years (1976-1988) for peacefully expressing his political opinions. AI is now calling on the Viet Nam government to release him. The organization is also concerned about reports of recent political trials in Viet Nam in which real and suspected government critics received long sentences.
